How far can a team be saved by a "remedial" adjustment?
The Rockets' start to the new season was like a runaway train, with star guard VanVleet (Van Jordan), who was brought in at great expense, constantly making mistakes on the court, and young talent Jalen Green gradually losing his shine. In the shadow of three consecutive losses, everyone was asking: Is this a young team with a future, or just another joke about "rebuilding every year"?
However, the good news is that the Rockets have finally found their way recently. Coach Udoka has finally made up his mind to reduce VanVleet's ball rights and hand over the offensive initiative to Jalen Green. How did it turn out? A series of eye-catching performances - 22 points, 27 points, 33 points. People began to talk about the name of this "future star" again. The question is, will this adjustment really bring change to the Rockets, or is it just a short-term "last gasp"?
For VanVleet, this may be one of the few "helpless moments" in his career. As a guard signed for a lot of money during the offseason, he was originally the "stabilizer" on both ends of the team's offense and defense.
But the reality is that Udoka significantly reduced his number of shots in recent games, with data that is astonishingly low: 8 times, 7 times, 11 times. This doesn't seem like the kind of data a core guard should have.
This adjustment seems sudden, but there are actually signs behind it. At the beginning of the season, the Rockets were obviously held back by the "Van Jordan system." VanVleet's playing style leans towards steady play, with a slower pace, which is stable but lacks explosiveness. This clearly does not match the style of the young Rockets team - players like Jalen Green and Amen Thompson naturally prefer fast-paced, straightforward offense. They don't need so many complicated screens and low-post singles, what they need is a system that can quickly tear through the opponent's defense.
Therefore, Udoka's adjustment is ultimately to find the rhythm that the Rockets should have, and Van Jordan has passively become the "sacrifice" of this adjustment. Of course, this does not mean that VanVleet's value is denied, his experience and leadership are still an indispensable part of this young team. However, he now looks more like a functional player rather than the team's absolute core.
The most direct beneficiary of Udoka's change is Jalen Green. Before the adjustment, his performance almost made people forget that he was once the "future cornerstone" of the Rockets. Frequent turnovers, unstable shooting touch, and poor control of the game rhythm caused his reputation to gradually decline, and there were even rumors of trading him at one point. But now, everything has changed.
In the last three games, his performance was spectacular: 22 points, 27 points, 33 points. This is not just simple scoring data, but a reflection of various abilities in the game. Against the Celtics, he only had 1 turnover; against the Lakers, he even achieved a "zero turnover" feat. For a young player who likes to dribble and take on a lot of offensive responsibilities, this is simply a "quantum leap".
Moreover, his defensive attitude has also undergone visible changes. In the past, he was often criticized for his "leaky defense," but now, he has learned to use physical contact to defend against opponents and even completed several key steals. It can be said that he has finally begun to show the potential of a superstar.
However, we must also calmly view these improvements. Jalen's performance is indeed eye-catching, but whether he can maintain such a state is still a question mark. After all, young players' performances are always unpredictable, and how far his future can go still needs to be tested by more games.
In fact, Udoka's adjustment is not just for Jalen alone, but to find a more suitable playing style for the entire Rockets team. In post-game interviews, both Jalen and Amen mentioned that they prefer fast-paced basketball. This style not only allows the team's young players to showcase their athletic abilities but also finds more easy scoring opportunities through quick offensive and defensive transitions.
The facts also prove this point. In recent games, the Rockets' overall pace has obviously accelerated, with significant improvements in both fast-break scoring and three-point shooting percentage. The biggest advantage of fast-paced basketball is that it can maximize the potential of young players while suppressing opponents through high-intensity game rhythms. However, its risks are also obvious - once the players' stamina is insufficient or their shooting touch declines, this style of play can easily lead to a large number of turnovers and unnecessary long-range shots.
Udoka obviously took a risk, but at least for now, this risk is worth it.
The Rockets had originally considered bringing in a star guard, such as De'Aaron Fox from the Kings. Fox is a top fast-break expert, and his playing style completely matches the tactical direction of the current Rockets. However, this plan eventually stalled.
There are two reasons: First, Fox's Kings started the season strongly with four consecutive victories, and they are unlikely to let go of their core player easily; second, the Rockets seem to have more confidence in their young core. Both Jalen Green and Amen Thompson have shown enough potential, and it would be better to solidly cultivate the existing young players rather than taking huge risks in recruiting.
This decision is undoubtedly a signal: The Rockets are no longer a team that relies on big-money trades to "gamble on fate," they are becoming more rational and patient.
Of course, although the Rockets' tactical adjustments have been effective, we cannot ignore the question: If this style of play is correct, why wasn't the change made at the beginning of the season? At the beginning of the season, Udoka was too obsessed with tactics centered around Van Jordan, resulting in poor team performance and even causing Jalen Green to lose confidence at one point. This "remedial" adjustment is certainly useful, but it may have come a bit too late.
However, to put it another way, compared to continuing down the wrong path, stopping losses in time is obviously a better choice. The next question is whether the Rockets can continue to progress based on this style of play or will fall into the cycle of "adjustment-repetition" again.
The Rockets' changes give people hope, but the real challenge has just begun. For this young team, the most important thing is not a temporary victory but finding a direction for continuous growth. And the era of Jalen Green may have just begun.
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